The journey had been long, but Si Mok Hwang was no stranger to the intricacies of evasion. After taking a private plane from Turkey, he found himself on a fishing boat, the salty air filling his lungs as he crossed into unfamiliar waters. The next leg of his journey was aboard a cruise ship, sailing steadily towards the Pakistani coast. It was late afternoon when the port finally came into view, the setting sun casting a golden hue over the distant silhouettes of oil rigs.
Si Mok took out his phone, dialing a number. When the call connected, he spoke in a low voice, barely above a whisper. "I'm in Pakistan," he said before ending the call. There was no need for further words; his contact would know what to do.
As the announcement came over the loudspeakers to prepare for docking, Si Mok leaned against the railing, watching as the port grew closer. The bustling activity of the docks could be seen from afar—workers, vehicles, and, to his dismay, a line of paramilitary rangers stationed at the exit. Their presence was unexpected, and it set Si Mok on edge.
He moved with the flow of passengers disembarking from the cruise. The rangers, armed and wearing tactical gear, were methodically checking each person as they stepped off the ship. Si Mok kept his expression neutral as he approached, his forged passport held tightly in his hand. A tall ranger blocked his path, his eyes cold beneath the brim of his helmet.
"Show me your passport," the ranger demanded, his deep voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd.
Si Mok handed over his passport, forcing himself to remain calm as the ranger scrutinized the document. Each passing second felt like an eternity. Finally, after what seemed like ages, the ranger handed the passport back to him without a word, and gestured for him to move along.
Si Mok accepted the passport and walked away, resisting the urge to look back. He moved swiftly, heading for the buses lined up at the edge of the port. He boarded the next bus to the nearest airport, finding a seat near the back. As the bus pulled away, he allowed himself a small sigh of relief. One more obstacle had been cleared.
---
At the airport, Si Mok booked a ticket for Islamabad. The terminal was crowded, filled with travelers and airport staff, and he blended into the throng with practiced ease. After hours of waiting, he finally boarded the plane. The exhaustion of the past few weeks hit him all at once, and as soon as he settled into his seat, his eyes began to droop.
Sleep took him before he could even think to resist.
---
"Sir, we've arrived."
Si Mok blinked awake, disoriented. The flight attendant was standing beside him, her expression polite as she repeated the words.
"We've arrived in Islamabad."
He nodded, rubbing his eyes as he got to his feet. His body ached from the stress of travel, and he moved stiffly as he exited the plane, making his way through the airport with a practiced wariness. Once outside, he paused, scanning the area.
Moments later, a black Vigo pulled up to the curb in front of him, the hum of its engine low and steady. The door swung open, and a familiar face leaned out.
"Long time no see," Lee Man-ho said, a smile tugging at his lips.
Si Mok couldn't help but smile back, a flicker of warmth breaking through his guarded demeanor. He climbed into the vehicle, closing the door behind him. Lee Man-ho, an old ally from his days as a prosecutor, had been one of the few people he trusted enough to call upon.
"It's been a while, Man-ho," Si Mok replied, his voice heavy with fatigue.
Lee glanced at him, his eyes filled with concern. "You look like hell," he said, though there was a hint of humor in his tone. "But I guess that's to be expected. Let's get you someplace safe."
As the car pulled away from the airport, Si Mok allowed himself a moment of reprieve. He had made it this far, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, he wasn't alone. He still had a long road ahead, but at least now, he had someone by his side